Did you know, Palau was colonized by four different powers over the past few centuries? The Spanish, Germans, Japanese, and later the Americans all left their mark in different ways. But of those periods, the Japanese era remains one of the most visible, both culturally and physically, especially through the ruins and wartime structures still scattered across the islands.
If any place in Palau is best known for World War II history, it is Peleliu, infamous for its long and brutal battle. Tanks, gun placements, mortar shells, and other remnants still cover parts of the island. But Babeldaob, Palau’s largest island, along with nearby Koror, also holds a number of fascinating Japanese-era sites and ruins that are worth seeking out.
Here are some of the ones I had the chance to visit.
Japanese Communications Building, Airai State
The Japanese Communications Building in Airai is probably the most well-known and most accessible Japanese wartime site on Babeldaob. It sits close to the main road and is one of the easier historical stops to include while exploring the island.
This building served as one of the Japanese Empire’s most important communication hubs in Palau during the war years. From what I learned, it played a major role in communication not only across Palau, but also with nearby places like Yap and possibly even Guam and Saipan.
One of the most interesting details is that the structure was designed to resemble a church from above. Today, it remains heavily weathered and damaged, with visible bullet holes, ceiling collapses, and large sections that are no longer safe to access. The upper portions of the building are off-limits due to structural damage, but even from the outside and lower level, it is one of the most striking WWII sites in Palau.
Don’t forget your PERMIT from Airai State Gov’t: $15 for foreigners as of 8/2022 (Prices may be different today).
Japanese Memorial, Ngatpang
This was one of the eerier stops I came across on Babeldaob.
The Japanese Memorial in Ngatpang had no major signage and was not clearly marked on Google Maps when I visited. It felt isolated, quiet, and somewhat forgotten, which only added to the atmosphere. From what I was told, Japanese soldiers may be buried there, though I would present that more as local understanding than something I can independently verify.
The monument itself has a pyramid-like form and feels almost abandoned in its current condition. It is not a place you go for grand views or restored history. It is more of a raw, quiet stop that leaves an impression simply because of its isolation and the weight it seems to carry.
Japanese Radio Tower, Ngatpang State
At a crossroads in Ngatpang, I came across the remains of a Japanese radio tower that once stood upright but now lies collapsed and rusting into the earth.
At the time I visited, the site was closed off because a museum for war relics was reportedly being developed nearby. Even without being able to fully explore it, it was still interesting to stop and see, especially knowing its connection to Palau’s wartime past. It also stood out because of how casually it sat within the everyday landscape, almost as if history and daily life were just existing side by side.
Credit: Wikipedia
Todai, Japanese Lighthouse, Ngarchelong State
At the northern end of Babeldaob, in Ngarchelong State, lie the remains of the former Japanese lighthouse and outpost known as Todai.
This site has far less standing structure left than the others. Much of it has collapsed, so it is not the kind of ruin you explore for architecture. What makes Todai worth the trip is the setting. The site offers some of the best panoramic views in northern Babeldaob, looking over the peninsula, nearby dock, offshore islands, and, on a clear day, even toward Kayangel.
Even though the ruin itself is limited, the combination of history, remoteness, and scenery makes it one of the more memorable stops.
At the time of my visit, entry required a small permit fee paid at an office near the base of the stairs.
Cost of entry/permit: $5 at a tiny office maned at the base of the stairs. (Again, prices may be different today)
Babeldaob still feels raw when it comes to exploration, and that is part of what makes it so interesting. Many relics and ruins across the island are still known mostly by locals, and not every site is heavily signposted, restored, or presented in a polished way.
That gives these places a different kind of atmosphere. They feel less like curated attractions and more like fragments of history still sitting where time left them.
Even just the sites mentioned here are worth visiting if you are interested in Palau’s history, especially its Japanese and WWII-era past. If you are the kind of traveler who loves time-warp places and historical remnants, Babeldaob has more to offer than many people realize.
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